Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)
This Coctel de Camarones is a refreshing Mexican shrimp cocktail made with cooked shrimp, creamy avocado, lime juice, and a zesty tomato-based sauce using V8. Serve cold with saltine crackers or tortilla chips for an easy no-cook appetizer that’s perfect for parties, holidays, or hot summer days.
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable juice recommend V8
- 1 to 2 tablespoons creamy horseradish (add more or less according to spicy tolerance)
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1/2 teaspoon bottled hot sauce recommend Tabasco
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1 jalapeno diced (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 pound medium to large shrimp shelled, deveined, and cooked
- 1 avocado pitted, peeled, and chopped
- Saltine crackers or tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Stir together the ketchup, vegetable juice, horseradish, lime juice, hot sauce, and garlic powder until well combined. Taste and add more chile or hot sauce if you would like it spicier.
- Add the onion, jalapeno (if using), cilantro, and shrimp and mix well. Gently stir in the avocado.
- Cover and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
- Serve in 4-ounce glasses with saltine crackers or corn tortilla chips.
Video
Notes
- Shrimp: I recommend medium shrimp (41/50 count) for the perfect bite. Use pre-cooked shrimp to save time, or cook raw shrimp by poaching in salted boiling water for 2 minutes until pink, then transferring to an ice bath to chill.
- Hot Sauce: Adjust the heat level to taste. Valentina, Cholula, or Tabasco all work great — or add diced jalapeño for even more kick.
- Avocado: Stir in avocado just before serving to keep it fresh and prevent browning.
- Make-Ahead Tip: You can mix everything (except avocado) several hours ahead of time. It gets even better after chilling.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve in bowls or cocktail glasses with saltine crackers or corn tortilla chips for scooping.
- Scalable: Use the “yield” tool in the recipe card to easily double or triple the recipe for a party or gathering.
Nutrition
Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 286mg | Sodium: 1328mg | Potassium: 630mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1076IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 3mg